As a die-hard fan who has followed Corey Feldman‘s journey since his days as a child star in the ’80s, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions seeing him back in the spotlight with his long-awaited film, The Birthday. It’s like witnessing a phoenix rising from the ashes, only this time, it’s not just a movie, it’s a testament to Corey’s resilience and determination.
This month, Corey Feldman is once again under the limelight as he discusses why his 2004 film “The Birthday” didn’t hit the screens until now, despite circulating at film festivals two decades ago. Directed by Eugenio Mira and set in 1987, the movie features Feldman playing Norman Forrester, a simple pizza shop worker who unwittingly finds himself entangled in a larger conspiracy linked to a doomsday cult, when he attends his girlfriend’s father’s lavish birthday party.
In a recent interview, Feldman addressed what he referred to as the “million-dollar question” concerning the delay of The Birthday’s U.S. release for nearly two decades. He explained that the “official” reason revolved around financial matters, with the film’s executive producer refusing to agree to a deal with any distributor unless they received their investment back immediately.
“There’s the million-dollar question! I have my own theories. The official answer is that the Executive Producer said he didn’t want to accept any offer that was not a full refund of his expenses to make it theatrical. We wanted it theatrical, but most distributors wouldn’t give money upfront, or would only give a little upfront, saving most [payment] for the backend. DVDs were fading out then, and times were changing. He held strong. We played at some festivals and got tremendous reviews. It was getting the buzz it needed, but he said, ‘No.’ It is what it is.”
The excitement around the movie “The Birthday” is partially due to Jordan Peele (known for “Get Out” and “Us”), who showcased Feldman’s film in 2023 at Film at Lincoln Center, New York City. Since then, it has been screened multiple times, garnering accolades from figures like Elijah Wood, who describes it as a “delectable, long-awaited gem of a film.” Stephanie Malone from Morbidly Beautiful considers it a “rare blessing for enthusiasts of unconventional cinema,” while Dan Scully of ScullyVision refers to it as the “ultimate ‘go in blind’ movie,” suggesting that it’s best not to disclose too much about “The Birthday” and let viewers experience the journey themselves.
Corey Feldman Believes The Birthday Was Purposely Prevented from Being Released
1978 marked the beginning of Feldman’s career, a time when he was barely ten years old and made his debut as the “Daycare kid” in the ABC sitcom “Eight is Enough”. Essentially, we watched him mature during the 1980s, taking on leading roles in popular films like “The Goonies”, “Gremlins”, “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter”, “Stand By Me”, and “The Lost Boys”, all within a span of just four years.
Ever since, I’ve been open about my battles with addiction and have consistently spoken out about the fact that I was a victim of sexual abuse as a child actor in Hollywood. At every opportunity, I’ve made it clear that pedophilia is a significant issue within the industry. I firmly believe that “The Birthday” wasn’t allowed to be released in cinemas in 2004 because certain influential figures didn’t want me to thrive.
“I prefer not to delve into conspiracy theories, but I strongly believe the ending of this movie was deliberately manipulated. It seemed like powerful individuals didn’t want me to succeed and instead wanted to present a narrative of a fallen hero – someone who had lost their skills and was no longer the promising young talent they once knew. That’s the image they attempted to associate with me.
Now that “The Birthday” has been released, Feldman expresses a feeling of validation and redemption as he believes that viewers will see him in one of his favorite roles. This role might have significantly impacted his career if the film had been successful earlier.
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2024-10-03 19:01